Dive into the deep for head-to-toe resistance training by Mary E. Sanders, PhD, FACSM, RCEP

Maintaining muscle strength and power is vital for functional independent living. Between ages 20 and 40 years, the human body reaches peak muscle mass and force. As the body ages into mid and later life, it undergoes a progressive, generalized loss of muscle mass, strength and power, known as sarcopenia. Aging also may lead to more rapid declines in muscle power compared to strength. Power—the rate of doing work or the time required to do work—affects the performance of activities such as stair climb, sit to stand, walking and agility. To be more “powerful,” muscles need to contract at various speeds.